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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Pinwheel Pips Quilt finish

Another quilt done - that's 5 this year so far, not including the minis. Pretty good going for me, I'm really happy with that! So, without out further ado, here it is, Pinwheel Pips!

This quilt was made for my 3 year old daughter E. She loves dogs, scooters and swings, so the Sherbet Pips fabric was a perfect choice for her. She has asked every single day for a month if it was finished yet, so I was really pleased to hand it over to her today. It makes a perfect cape for Super Lady, her current favourite imaginary persona.....

I have mixed feelings about this quilt really. I enjoyed piecing it and I think my accuracy in cutting and piecing has improved hugely since earlier this year, and it shows here. When I was sewing together my rows of pinwheels, the vast majority of them matched up perfectly!

There are a few that didn't, they don't worry me too much, and one that was completely off that I had to unpick 6 or 7 times to get it remotely close. But overall I am happy with the piecing. My job is so stressful that I like not to stress about quilting, and everything lining up perfectly and tend to go with the flow once it looks ok, I know some quilters would hate this approach but it works for me!

I also did my first attempt at a pieced back - a very simple one. I used one leftover block, put some borders on it and pieced it in the centre of the backing. I did an ok job of matching it up, one side is perfect, the other is slightly off but the quilting through it looks ok, so I'm happy with that.

I quilted it on the diagonal lines, 3/8" on either side of them to give a double line. I found the quilting harder than I anticipated -I'm not sure if the seams were stretching a little, being on the bias (or is that my imagination, I would have thought they wouldn't move once the quilt top was sewn together) and even though I basted it with pins a little closer together than normal, it seemed to move around a little on me and I have a few puckers. It was hard to keep the lines dead straight at some of the intersections because of the bulk of the seams meeting even though I had done a lot of work to make them lie flat. This is the first time I've quilted something this lightly and I think I really do prefer the more densely quilted look, although I like the squashiness of this.

I used a flat sheet for the backing, having seen other quilters do this and I'm kind of regretting it already. I bought a sheet on sale and I know it was cheap, and its polycotton, but I threw it in the wash last night and its bobbled already. Now, I use polycotton sheets quite a bit here when I can't get cotton, and I've never, ever, had a sheet bobble on me before, no matter how little I paid for it or how much it was used or washed. So I'm pretty annoyed and feel its taken the sheen off my quilt :-( I even, in a mad moment this morning, considered unpicking the binding and the quilting and requilting it. Hmm. I'm actually still considering that one. I just put so much work into the quilt top that I'm a bit disappointed that I'm not totally loving the end result.

I bound it with the remaining half yard of Its a Hoot eggs fabric, the gray colour compliments the colours in the quilt really well I think.

But, looking on the positives, E absolutely loves it and I have a cushion/pillow to match it for her so its a lovely set for her to snuggle in watching DVDs, or to drag around the playroom for her games.

I totally agree with your comment about not stressing about points totally matching up. In my 'real' job everything has to be just so and to a deadline and for me, quilting has to be the antithesis of that. If points don't quite come together never mind. Great job.

I think it is lovely and I know you are thrilled that your daughter loves it. Sorry the sheet didn't work out as you had hoped. Your quilting lines look great. I spray baste and have tried pinning before several times too and I still get little puckers. They drive me crazy but I can't seem to do it without them. Oh well. Well done Sarah!

Yep, I agree, work (well sort of), and family are there to stress about, the quilting should be the relaxing 'escape'! Shame about the sheet - I think that it's just sod's law; but if little one is happy (and if she's anything like mine) then the quilt will be in for a rough ride and a few bobbles won't affect her enjoyment. It looks beautiful :)

So sorry about the sheet! Thats frustrating. But if Super Lady is going to be dragging it around the house, at least you won't have to worry about her messing it up! I love what you did with the border, and the quilting shows off the pattern perfectly!

Awww, it sounds like it turned out just lovely!! It sure looks wonderful. Sorry to hear about the sheet - I haven't tried using sheets before, though I've thought about it many a time. Maybe after a few washings, all will be well? Don't rip it apart, I think it looks great :)

Don't undo it! I've undone things before and cursed all the way through it, you don't want all that unpicking misery! It looks lovely and I'm sure in a couple of weeks when it's been properly used you won't notice..

This is beautiful, Sarah.I sometimes use sheets for my quilt backing - sometimes it works great, and other times I'm disappointed, too. But it's such a nice, easy way to make a quilt backing!Don't rip it apart - it's really lovely!

Oh My,such a gorgeous quilt! Your daughter will never notice any flaws,she will just love the fact that you made her a special quilt all her own :)Don't pick/rip it out! I am the Queen of the seam ripper,it was the award the teacher gave me at the end of Home Economics class in high school! I use it a lot & hate every second of it!!!

I think pretty much the same way you do - I don't want my hobbies to be stressful (sometimes they are but I don't want them to be)!

I'd be tempted to change the backing fabric too. (Not saying you should, just saying that I'd be tempted)

Last night I finished our second quilt (DD and I worked on them together) and I'm not happy about the way the fabric on the fron is too 'saggy' - but it's for my 15mo grandson so I'm trying not to worry too much!

oh, it turned out beautifully! Love that your daughter uses it as a cape! My daughter loves to play superhero with her blankies, she hasn't found a quilt for that purpose yet either. Not sure what to tell you about the sheet. I've used a sheet for backing on King size quilts because I'm too cheap to buy that much fabric. But, I never had problems with it. I used a low thread count sheet, I think 150 or 200? Anyway - if your daughter is going to be dragging this one around beating it up, I wouldn't worry to much. It's loved and it's beautiful!

Aw, sorry to hear about your sheet issues! I think it looks perfect though, and like PPs if your daughter is going to use it to play superhero, then at least you dont have to to worry about her destroying it! I think it is perfect, great finish!

About Me

Welcome! I'm Sarah, modern quilter and unashamed fabric addict. Also, busy working mum to 3 small people. This blog is my little escape from the madness of my everyday life. When I'm not sewing, I'm dreaming up projects & learning all I can. I like to knit and crochet too and love a good chat! So please, stay, have a look around and join in the fun.